Learn all about deadly Ebola virus

Lancaster University will offer free online courses about Ebola next year.

The university is one of two offering the courses.

One more basic programme will be aimed at the general public, and aims to “demystify” the disease, and a second more advanced one will be aimed at healthcare workers.

Both two-week courses will look at the origins and history of Ebola and possible ways it could be contained and treated.

Dr Derek Gatherer, the lead educator on Lancaster University’s course, which is aimed at the general public, said: “Ebola is a current and very emotive public health emergency, and one of the aims of our course is to demystify the disease for the general public and set out the facts.

“We also want to engage with and encourage new students who want a career in biology or medicine.” The courses provided by FutureLearn, an online “social learning platform”, are MOOCs, or “massive open online courses”, are open to anyone.